Kashgar - an important transit point on the ancient Silk Route and a gateway between China and Pakistan - has earned a special distinction during President Asif Ali Zardari six-day official visit to China early this month. It has been declared a special economic zone, which is the magic formula that has catapulted several Chinese towns like Shenzhen into world class trading centres, said local media reports.
The announcement makes Kashgar in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the sixth special economic zone in China. This will mean preferential policy support for development of new industries in the city. This will mean a growing market for Pakistani exports.
President Zardari at meeting with a group of officials from the China Northern Railways Corporation said that Pakistan was keen to build new railway lines for access to the Central Asia, West Asia and Chinese markets. He requested CNR to form a consortium with Pakistan Railways to give shape to the plans.